Jig



June 17, 1941. v c. E. woon JIG Filed Oct. 3, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l .guyz 4 "5 Wlllm, I' 4] l r l u' f@ f ZZ HIIIHHII I I 70 r Q qqq y o r /9 s l 1 o,

/aa 05 *-i a 77 5/0 I LM /2 f6. JLM@ f '1Q f7 I, m2

.lune 17, 1941. C, E, WOOD 2,246,084

I /0 7 ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 l UNITED STM estaran nJIGr Charles nwo-a, Milwaukee, Wis. Application October 3, 1938, Serial No. 233,001

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus commonly known as jigs Vfor separation of solid particles of material according to specific gravitie's by effecting alternate pulsations of liquid through a bed of the particles so that they are caused to arrange themselves in strata forA draw-oil at predetermined levels. y

In jigs of this character it is difficult to obtain uniform pulsation throughout the entire area of the bed, consequently the strata are notclearlyV defined in horizontal planes, and therefore the respective draw-offs `A'remove particles of varying specific gravities. 'This trouble has been Yreduced in part byspacingl the pulsator a material distance from the bed but this requiresvrnovement of a greater volume of liquid upon each pulsation.

Even'then the physical diiiicultiesinvolved have materially interfered with use of the desired. frequency of pulsation or with use of avpulsation in which time for the upwardac'tionisj less *than the time for the downward motion.'

It is, therefore, a'principal object'of the present` invention to provide a pulsating jig constructed to effect uniform pulsation throughout the entire area of the bed with a relatively small volume and weight of liquid, thereby enabling use of higher frequency pulsations with less power than is usually required fork operating machinesjof this character. advantageous because the greater number of reversals in the liquid flow produces better stratification. n i I Other objects of the invention are to provide a jigof simplified construction; to provide a jig which requires less head` roomin the plant High frequency pulsations rare in which it is installed; to provde a jig with aA diaphragm member 25. v v y The diaphragm 25 is formed o f sheet material In accomplishing these landfother objects of v the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in vthenaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a jig constructed in accordance with the present invention.`

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view ofltheA jig,r partly in vertical section.

Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the lower ends of one pair of stabilizer rodsland showing their connection with theflexible support.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the jig i I Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan of one corner of the bed, particularly illustrating the supporting screen and the shot covering therefor.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational Viewin quarter section of a modified form of the invention. Y

Fig.'7 is a horizontal sectionthrough one side of the apparatus shownin Fig. 6.

- Referring more in detail to the drawingsw I designates ajigconstructedfin accordance with the present invention and Vwhich 'includes a'fr'ame 2 having *a rectangular base 3 formed of channel members 4-5 and 6 1, arranged on' edge with. their flanges projecting outwardly, and connected together at their Ycorners by vangleshapedposts 8 9 and Ill-ll having their flangesV riveted or otherwise suitably attached 'tothew'ebs of the channels. The channelumembers land 5 are preferably reinforced by inner channel'slZ and f3 having their ends overlapping the flanges of the corner posts, as' shown in Fig; 1. The upper ends of lthe posts are connected Aby angleljirons and I9`II arerrespectively connected by cross' bracings l! and I9. The angles [4j-l5 and [6i- 1 l1 are arranged with one of ytheir flangeszil extendingrhorizontally in an outward direction toprovide a flat peripheral seat 2| for mounting the overlapping edge 22 of a exibleA ring-like membrane 23 thatextends entirely around the4 seat 2| .and has an inner edge 24 projecting inf, wardly thereof Vand secured to the rim o'f ta. rigid shaped to provide a shallow funnel or khopper 26 having its perimeter conforming in shapefto the inner periphery of the seat 2| but which is spaced therefrom a suflicient distance to allow free ilexibility of the membrane -23 upon pulsation of the diaphragm as later described. The innerrperimetrical edge of themembrane overlaps the upperv face of the diaphragm and'is clampedjthereto by fastening devices such as bolts 121 extending through a clamping ring 28, the membrane 23 a gasket 29, and the diaphragm 25, to provide a leak-tight joint as best shown in Figi. 4. The depending portion of thev diaphragm converges toward a central draw-nii` opening whereby the heavier concentrates are drawn from the machine through a conduit 3| that is connected with a iiange 32 secured to the bo-ttom of the diaphragm in encircling relation with the opening 30, the conduit 3| being connected by bushings 33.

In order to reinforce the diaphragm so that it is substantially rigid under thrusts imparted by pulsatormechanism, later described, the sides thereof are .connected by Atransverse tubular members 34 and 35. The transverse member 34 eX- tends in a transverse direction relatively to the channels 4|2 and 5|3 of the frame 2, and has its ends welded to the inner adjacent sides of the diaphragm. The other member 35 has its ends welded in openings 36 of the diaphragm and terminates in depending necks 31'to which 'are connected flexible conduits 3S. The members 34 and 35 are preferably interconnected at their crossing points Aand are provided with downwardly opening apertures 39 through which a liquid is admitted into the interior of the hopper-shaped diaphragm.

Extending about the perimeter of the membrane 23, kin alignment with the seat 2|, is a gasket ring 40, -and seated thereon is aY laterally extending ange 4| of a housing ld2. The flange 4| is clamped to the seat 2| by fastening devices such as bolts 43 extending therethrough as shown in Fig. 4 to form a leak-tight joint. The housing 42 conforms inshape to the seat 2| and includes side walls 44,--45 and 45E- 611, the wall 45 being provided with an offset 48 substantially midway the height thereof and the wall 45 terminating slightly above the offset to form a weir 49 across which tailings are discharged from the machine to a spoutYA 50vthat is formed by the upper portions of the side walls 44 and 45 and an inclined connecting plate-5| secured to the upper edgeY of the weir Supported a `relatively short distance above the diaphragm, for example a distance less than onehalf the width of the housing, is a screen 52, the screen 52 being carried upon a grid 53 that in turn is supported `onaledge y54 attached to the inner faces of .the ,side walls. The grid 53 comprises longitudinal and transverse bars 55 and 56 arranged. on edge and spaced apart a distance to formfadequateY support forthe screen. The screen 52 covers the entire area ofthe housing to cooperate with the diaphragm and side walls to. form a pulsating chamber 51 and is spaced below the Weir 49 so vthat a bed of pulp is carried thereabove as shownin Fig. 4. The screen 52 is formed of sheet `material and Ahas a plurality of elongated apertures 58 through which liquid is pulsated responsive tomovement of the diaphragm for keeping the bed of pulp aliveso that particles of different specic gravitiesmay seek their level in the bed. Y

`In order to prevent clogging of the screen, it .is preferably coveredwith two or more layers` of shot or balls 59` that are of larger diameter than the apertures 58 and of a size to form openings therebetween for .passage of the heaviest particles or concentrates, as later described` Fixed to the outer sides of the housing walls 44-45 land vI6- 41 are interconnected conduits 60 havingcommunication with the pulsating chamber through slots 6| that are formed in the corresponding walls of the housing at a point slightly below the ledge 54 and through which wash liquid is supplied to the diaphragm chamber 51 for viiow through the pulprbed, as later described, the contries.

duits 69 having common connection 02 with a suitable source of supply (not shown). In the illustrated instance a draw-0E opening 63 extends transversely across the side of the bed just above the upper layer of balls and directly connects with a draw-01T gate 64. The gate 64 includes a cylindrical housing secured to the outer face of the side wall 46 by supporting plates 66 and 61, and has a slotted opening 68 registering with the opening 63 ,and an outlet opening t9 that is spaced therefrom tov connect with` an outlet duct 10. Rotatable in the housing is a gate 1| having radial blades 12 forming pockets 13 therebetween, so

` that when one of the pockets is in receiving rela- .tion with the opening 68, that pocket is sealed from the outlet opening 60, whereby the concentrates are retained therein. The blades are preferably formed of flexible material that sealingly engages the wall of the housing to prevent leakage therebetween and thereby retain the level of the pulp bed up to the -weir 40. The gate is rotated by a shaft 14 that projectsfrom an end of the housing as shownat v15 in Fig. 3

The diaphragm pulSator-mechanism includesv a shaft 16 that is rotatably journalled in bearings 11 and 16 mounted on ,the upper flanges of the paired channels 4|2 and 5,-1 3.,; Splined on the shaft 16 at 4spaced points on opposite sides of the axis of the diaphragm are eccentrics 19 and 80 carrying eccentric ystrapsjtH andy 82 having rods 83 and 84 which are connected with brackets 85 land 86 xed tothe outer side ofthe diaphragm at points above the actuating shaft.- I

The brackets A and-8,6 include horizontal portions 81 and 86 and positioned therebeneath are pads of resilient materiaL-,such as rubber 83 and 00,. forengaging therebetween plate-like heads 6| and 92 on the lupper ends of :therods 83 and-84. The resilient Apadsare `clamped against theplatelike heads 9| and.92 andagainst the horizontal portions of the brackets by fastening devices, such as bolts ,9.3, extendinglthrough suitable openings in the brackets, through spacer sleeves 94 and 05, and through aligning openings in clamping plates 96 and 91 that are loosely sleeved over kthe rods 83 and 84. The connecting rods 83 and'84 are thus positively attached to the brackets but the resilient blocks provide sufficient iiexibility to accommodate movement responsive to throw of the eccentrics. v

In order to retainv the diaphragm in horizontal alignment, under thrusts lof the eccentrics, so that all of the area thereof is eifective in forcing liquid through the screen, the sides thereof are provided with pairs of ears 98 and 09 to which are connected pairs of brace rods Vlil!! and |0.| having their lower endsl connected to ears. |02 of clips |03 that'are attached to resilient cross members |04 and |05 extending across the base frame Vand 'having their ends fixed to the upper flanges of the channelmembers 6 and .1 as best shown in Fig. l. The resilient members are preferably laminated and include flat, spring-like leaves |06, juxtaposed-by a shock absorbing strip |01vof a material such as wood. The ends yof the members, |04 and |05 are firmly anchored to the fianges of the channelsby fastening devices, such as bolts |08, and the clips |03 are secured by bolts |09 as best illustrated in Fig.i 3. The brace rods thus stabilize the diaphragm on the respective sides ofthe actuating shaft to Vretain it in horizontal position. The resilient members have sufficient flexibility to allow 'for movement of the diaphragm yresponsveto actuation of the eccen- 'lhe diaphragm is thus supported so vthat all of the area thereof is equally effective in forcing the pulsating liquid through the apertures of the diaphragm.

In operating a jig constructed and assembled as described, pulp containing theparticles to be Separated is admitted to the housing at the offset side thereof so that a bed of the pulp is deposited and maintained upon, the screen up to the level of the Weir @9. The connections 33-and 62 are connected with suitable sources of liquid so that liquid is admitted to the diaphragm chamber for ow upwardly through the screen 'and yover the Weir along with the tailings or lighter particles carried in the pulp stream. Upon rotation of the shaft, the eccentrics produce a vibratory movement of the diaphragm to pulsate the liquid upwardly through the screen, raising the balls and loosening the bed so that the particles may seek their level according to their specific gravities, the heavier particles collecting at the bottom of the bed and the lightest particles at the top of the bed where they are washed over the edge of the Weir and out through the spout 50. Upon reverse movement of the diaphragm, the balls reseat and the heaviest concentrates are drawn through the spaces therebetween and through the openings of the screen and settle to the bottom of the diaphragm chamber where they collect on the diaphragm for draw-off through the conduit 3|. The next heavier concentrates and those unable to pass the apertures between the balls are discharged through the openings 63 and B8 into a registering pocket of the rotary valve. The valve may be rotated from time to time so as to carry a lled pocket into communication with the outlet f6!! where the collected concentrates are discharged through the outlet duct 1o. During pulsation of the diaphragm the brace members maintain the level position thereof so that the liquid is discharged with the same effective force through all of the area of the bed and since the diaphragm is substantially the same dimensions as the bed the liquid is discharged with equal force through the entire area thereof. Attention is directed to the fact that since the diaphragm is located very close to the bed the diaphragm is actuated against a minimum head of liquid thereby reducing the amount of power required and enabling actuation of the diaphragm at higher frequencies.

With the structure illustrated the diaphragm may be located so that it may be successfully operated at a distance less than half the width of the bed and yet obtain equal distribution of the ow through the screen.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 the diaphragm ||2 has an upper portion I|3 substantially conforming in dimensions to the cell or bed enclosure housing 4. The marginal edge of the diaphragm has a laterally extending flange H underlying an outturned ange I|6 on the lower edge of the housing ||4 and which corresponds with the ilange lll in the first form of the invention. The flanges H5 and IIB are spaced apart and connected by a flexible member of U-shaped cross-section and having attaching portions I i8 and I I9 engaging the outer faces of the respective flanges. Cooperating with the flanges are clamping strips and |2| to retain the exible member in leak-proof engagement with the flanges, the clamping strips being retained by fastening devices such as bolts |22 extending through the clamping strips, through the attaching portions of the flexible member, and through the anges as shown in Fig. 6. In order to retain the diaphragm in aligning registry with the bed so that there is relatively no lateral movement with resepect thereto, the opposite sides of thediaphragm are connected by pairs of links |23 and |24 having their opposite ends |25 and |26 extending loosely through apertures |21 in the anges of the legs |28 of the supporting frame. Sleeved over the projecting ends of the links are compression springs |29 and |30 having one of their ends bearing against the legs and their opposite ends against Washers ISI backed by adjusting nuts |32 that are threadedlymounted on the links. By uniformly tensioning the springs the diaphragm is centrally supported withvrespect to` the bed and yet reciprocably movable for reciprocation by the eccentrics, otherwise the constructionis substantially the same as that of the preferred form. In the latter form the rigid portion of the diaphragm, being the same area as the bed, effects movement of the pulsating liquid uniformly and at substantially the same speed throughout the entire area of the bed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A jig including a supporting frame, a pulsating chamber, a movable diaphragm substantially conforming in size to the horizontal section of the pulsating chamber, a shaft rotatably supported on the frame below said diaphragm, eccentrics on said shaft, means connecting the eccentrics with the diaphragm, brace members connected with the diaphragm on opposite sides of said eccentrics, leaf-like resilient members having ends connected with opposite sides of said frame, and means connecting the brace members with center portions of said leaf-like resilient members to maintain horizontal relationship of said ,diaphragm during actuation of said eccentrics.

2. A jig including a supporting frame, a pulsating chamber, means closing the bottom of the pulsating chamber including a ring-like flexible membrane, a substantially rigid; diaphragm connected with the membrane and substantially conforming to the area of the pulsating chamber, a shaft rotatably supported on the frame below said diaphragm, eccentrics on said shaft, means connecting the eccentrics with the diaphragm, spaced pairs of brace members connected with the diaphragm on opposite sides of said eccentrics, leaf-like resilient members spaced on said frame substantially in correspondence with spacing of said pairs of brace members, and meansV connecting said resilient members with said brace members.

3. A jig including a frame, a pulsating chamber, a movable diaphragm forming the bottom of the pulsating chamber, means in the chamber for supporting a bed of particles to be separated according to specic gravity, means for pulsating the diaphragm, spaced brace means connected with outer side portions of the diaphragm on opposite sides of said pulsating means, leaf-life resilient members having their ends xed to the frame and extending transversely below said diaphragm, and means connecting the brace means with said resilient members.

4. A jig including a frame, a pulsating chamber, a movable diaphragm forming the bottom of the pulsating chamber, means in the chamber for supporting a bed of particles to be separated according to specific gravity, means for pulsating the diaphragm, brace means connected with the diaphragm on opposite sides of said pulsating means, laminated resilient members having their respective ends xed to opposite sides of the frame, and means connecting the brace means With said resilient members.

5. In a jig, a ring-like membrane, a funnelshaped diaphragm member, means clamping the inner edge of the ring-like membrane to the rim of the diaphragm member, cross bracing connecting opposite sides of the diaphragm member including apertured tubes, and means connected with said tubes for supplying liquid for ow into the funnel-like diaphragm member through said apertures.

6. In a jig, a pulsating chamber, a Vibratory funnel-shaped diaphragm forming the bottom of said pulsating chamber, cross-bracing connect- 1.5.- 

